Lawyer in India faults rape victim

Thursday

Jan 10, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 10, 2013 at 10:33 AM

NEW DELHI - The lawyer representing three of the men charged with the gang rape and murder of a medical student aboard a bus in New Delhi has blamed the victims for the assault, saying he has never heard of a "respected lady" being raped in India.

NEW DELHI — The lawyer representing three of the men charged with the gang rape and murder of a medical student aboard a bus in New Delhi has blamed the victims for the assault, saying he has never heard of a “respected lady” being raped in India.

Manohar Lal Sharma said his clients will plead not guilty to all charges today. His comments come as Indians have reacted with outrage to politicians and a preacher who accused westernized women of inviting sexual assaults. Sharma said the male companion of the murdered 23-year-old was “ wholly responsible” for the incident because the unmarried couple should not have been on the streets at night.

“Until today, I have not seen a single incident or example of rape with a respected lady,” Sharma said. “Even an underworld don would not like to touch a girl with respect.”

Sharma’s comments highlight frequently aired attitudes toward women in India. Activists say reporting of sex crimes and police investigations of rape are hindered by a tendency to blame the victim for not following the traditional, conservative social roles ascribed to women.

Sharma, 56, said his clients are innocent. “This is a very complicated case, and the matter has not been solved yet,” he said. Police say they have DNA evidence linking all six defendants to the crime.